Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/75

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Survey of Public Education in Eugene.
59

who is spoken of by all her former pupils as a "fine teacher."[1] She ostensibly had charge of "the female department," but in reality taught both girls and boys in certain subjects, while Mr. Henderson taught certain other subjects to all taking them.

On November 10 the Journal reports seventy-five pupils in attendance, and says that the prosperity of the school "indicates a return of the palmy days when Lane County boys and girls received an education without being shipped to Salem or Portland. Eugene City at one time enjoyed an enviable reputation on account of her educational facilities, and students came from adjoining counties and from distant parts of the state to attend our schools."

At the close of the first term there were one hundred and thirteen names on the roll, and about one hundred in regular attendance. Of this number it was stated about forty were "young men and large boys, many of whom have started in for a two or three years' siege." The next term the attendance fell off "slightly." The following by Professor Henderson[2] may not fully indicate the reason for the decline, but it affords us the best view we have yet had of the internal economy of the private high school of a generation ago. He says: "I desire, by your permission, to correct some false and malicious reports which some unscrupulous persons have put in circulation concerning our school.

"First—I assure the public our school is intended to be a permanent institution, both summer and winter.

"Second—It is open to all grades of students, large and small, male and female.


  1. Letter of Callison; interview with R. M. Veatch.
  2. Journal, January 5, 1867.